Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said his country is doing “everything possible to protect the life of Mr. Assange.”

Sources at the embassy told Press Association that an approach was made to the authorities in Sweden last Wednesday, offering them the chance to interview Assange about the allegations, but it had been turned down, without any reason being given.

This week, Assange's mother voiced concerns for her son's health. Christine Assange told the Associated Press: “He is under a lot of stress and it’s been long-term stress now for nearly two years and in conditions which are similar to detention,”

Ecuador has said they will not announce a decision on the asylum request until after the London 2012 Olympics.

Last week, a High Court judge ruled that classified US cables from WikiLeaks can be used to cross examine senior UK government officials, an unprecedented step.